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NEW SOUTH WALES
THE CHIEF MAGISTRATE OF THE LOCAL COURT
1.5 April201.5
Mr P Seith
New South Wales Bar Association
Selborne Chambers
174 Phillip Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Dear Mr Selth
Re: Special sitting arrangements during the Local Court Annual Conference:
Wednesday I. July 201.5 to Friday 3 July 20.5 inclusive.
The following sitting arrangements will apply during the Court's Annual Conference from I
July 2015 to 3 July 2015:
Metro o1itan area
Two Acting Magistrates will be rostered at Parramatta Local Court to determine bail for
adult persons who remain in custody in the metropolitan area and to consider any urgent
applications for Apprehended Violence Orders that are lodged state wide. All adults,
reinanded in custody -within the Sydney Metropolitan area, are to be dealt with via Audio
Visual Link facilities at Parramatta Local Court from Correctional facilities at Surry Hills and
Emu Plains.
To improve the efficiency of the bail courts at this time I would request that special
administrative arrangements are made the bail courts in particular that the Legal Aid be
given access to charge papers and their clients earlier than would normally occur on a week
day. To this end I have asked my Executive Officer, Ms Iacinta Haywood to hold a meeting
with the relevant participants to discuss these arrangements.
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Registrars of the Court will conduct bail hearings when required at regional locations.
Children's Court
Two Acting Magistrates with experience in the operation of the Children's Court will be
rostered at Parramatta Children's Court to determine bail applications, urgent applications
for Apprehended Violence Orders and urgent applications for care and protection orders
from across the state.
Any juvenile who is taken into custody and refused bail by police is to be transported to the
nearest Detention Centre and brought before Parramatta Children's Court via Audio Visual
Link from that Detention Centre. Please note that in regional areas where long distances are
required to transport the Young person to the Detention Centre it may be preferable to
initially place the juvenile before the Registrar (if available) for bail determination and if bail
Level5, Downing Centre, 143-I47 Liverpool Street, Sydney, N. S. W. 2000
Telephone: (02) 928776t 51(02) 92877588 Fax: (02) 9264/6t 7
Email: cmo@agd. nsw. gov. au
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is subsequently refused by the Registrar the matter is to be adjourned to the following day
to appear via Audio Visual Link facilities before the Magistrate at Parramatta Children s
Court.
Applications for urgent Apprehended Violence Orders where the defendant is a juvenile are
to be lodged at the nearest court and transmitted to Parramatta Children s Court by court
staff for determination by a Magistrate during court sitting hours. Parties are to be advised
not to attend the Parramatta Children's Court registry.
Applications for Emergency Care and Protection Orders or applications for care and
protection orders where a child has been removed or where care has been assumed are to
be lodged at the nearest court. Staff at that Court should contact Parramatta Children s
Court (8688-1,888) to obtain an urgent listing date at Parramatta. Parties in regional or rural
locations should, in appropriate cases, be assisted by court staff to appear at Parramatta
Children's Court via Audio or Audiovisual Link.
A
rehended Violence Orders
Magistrates will be available at Parramatta Children's Court and Local Court on weekdays
that are not public holidays to determine urgent applications only during court sittings
hours'
The following instructions are to be provided to Local Court staff during the fixed leave
period:
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Parties are to be advised that they are not to attend either Parramatta Children s
Court or Local Court during the above period for the purpose of obtaining
Apprehended Violence Orders. Please ensure that Registrars provide this
information to their local police commands
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Urgent Apprehended Violence applications are to be referred to the duty Magistrate
by facsimile during court sitting hours
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Authorised Justices are to adjourn matters involving persons in custody to the next
sitting day of the Court (or circuit if applicable) from which that matter arises on or
after 6 July 2015, not to Parramatta Children's Court or Local Court.
General instructions for Authorised justices conductin bail courts
Authorised Justices are to adjourn matters involving persons in custody to the next sitting
day of the Court (or circuit if applicable) from which that matter arises on or after 6 July
2015 wherever possible. Should an accused person be refused bail and not consent to the
adjournment beyond the statutory period the matter should not be adjourned to
Parramatta Local Court or Parramatta Children's Court unless arrangements have been
made with the relevant registrar for the listing of the matter before a magistrate.
Yours since ely
Judge Graeme Henson
Chief Magistrate